Slayton Arboretum hosts fall event with new coordinator

HILLSDALE — Color will be the focal point as Hillsdale College’s Slayton Arboretum holds “Autumn in the Arb” today.

The fall event will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Slayton Arboretum on Barber Drive. In the event of inclement weather, listen for announcements on WCSR AM 1340/FM 92.1.

In addition to providing an opportunity to appreciate the fall color and the newly-renovated waterfall, crafts and activities for children of all ages will be available.

New arboretum program coordinator Laurie Rosenberg said crafts will feature different versions of leaf prints, something interesting that parents can explore with their children.

“It’s a beautiful time of year and it’s an opportunity to enjoy doing something with your children in nature, to learn and expand horizons,” Rosenberg said.

Rosenberg is a Branch County native who is happy to be back in her home state after working in community outreach and academia for 11 years in Pennsylvania. She worked as the director of environmental education outreach for Muhlenberg College’s Graver Arboretum for five years and also taught introductory biology and ecology labs and biodiversity at the college. At Muhlenberg, she developed a K-12 field study program at the arboretum, and led community programs there.

Most recently, she worked as a service learning grant coordinator for the leadership class at Northampton Community College, where she and her students founded a community garden club and worked on community gardening initiatives in the greater Lehigh Valley. She also taught horticulture at Temple University’s Ambler campus.

With good weather predicted for today’s event, Rosenberg said the colors will be optimal for viewing.

“There’s a lot going on in the fall — though plants are shutting down, they give off a lot of color and wildlife is out gathering — so there is much to observe in nature,” she said.

Coming to Hillsdale from the Philadelphia area, Rosenberg said parents and children would walk the trails there every day.

“It’s very therapeutic,” Rosenberg said. “It’s an opportunity for parents to interact with their children.”

Rosenberg would like to see more people visit the Slayton Arboretum to discover and share experiences since Hillsdale is fortunate to have what she referred to as a gem.

“I’ve traveled around and I’ve seen lots of arboretums because that’s my field,” she said. “This one is as beautiful as any I’ve seen … I’d like to see people come more often.”

She encouraged those who haven’t yet seen the newly-restored waterfall to come see its beauty.

“The waterfall restoration shows the ‘can-do’ spirit of the Hillsdale community — it’s an impressive focal point, enhancing the arboretum’s role as a significant regional educational and recreational resource and a place of respite for students, faculty and residents,” she said. “It’s a good example of how people can draw inspiration from the values of the past and use them to renew Michigan for the future.”

Page 2 of 2 - Hillsdale College Media Relations Manager Bill Gray said the goals of the Slayton Arboretum are to display and preserve living plant collections and native plant communities, and to study and disseminate knowledge about plants through teaching, research, education, publications, and public outreach programs.